Steinert tunes up for CJ III tourney by beating Hamilton

HAMILTON — As Steinert begins the Central Jersey Group III tournament Thursday, the Spartans have to feel good about a few things.

They are playing their best softball of the year as Wednesday’s 6-0 win over Hamilton was their seventh in nine games. And the veterans who helped fuel a run to the CJ IV finals last year, are getting hot at the right time.

Senior Jess Giordano notched her third shutout in her last four outings, with the other decision being a 2-0 loss to Robbinsville in which she pitched well.

Junior Alissa Brugnoli continues to be a rock at shortstop and a contributor from the leadoff spot.

Against Hamilton, Bennett went 4-for-4 with a double, home run, four RBIs and a stolen base. Going back to Tuesday’s win at Nottingham, Bennett has six hits in her last seven at-bats, with two homers, a double and seven RBI.

All because she discovered a crack in her bat, which had her slumping the past few weeks.

“We’re glad to have her back, because she’s such an important part of the lineup,” Giordano said. “We can always depend on her to put a ball in play and get on base and help us out.”

Steinert coach Jean Ruppert said on Tuesday she had been after Bennett to try a new bat. She did so in her final plate appearance against Nottingham and used teammate Kaley Wise’s bat to crush a home run.

Despite getting a new bat today, Bennett stuck with Wise’s bat and hit an opposite-field, two-run homer to give Steinert a 2-0 lead on Hamilton in the first inning.

“I was about to stop at second, I couldn’t tell if it went over or not,” Bennett said. “It looked like it got caught in the net at the bottom of the fence.”

It did. But on the other side of the fence.

Bennett doubled in the third but reliever Hayley Fletcher escaped unharmed. Fletcher kept it a 2-0 game until the fifth when Megan Gallagher reached second on an error and Bennett singled her home.

Steinert (10-9) iced it with a three-run sixth as Tyler Valenza rapped her second hit and Kelly Schwager’s double put runners on second and third. Courtney Danser walked and, after a fly out, Gallagher hit an RBI single. Bennett then singled in a run, and the second scored when Danser got in a rundown between third and home and scored on an overthrow.

Giordano nailed it down in the seventh to make it a nice Senior Day for her and her classmates.

“It was nice to pitch shutout on Senior Day,” she said. “Of course, that’s the only thing you want to do on Senior Day is just win and see everyone get in the game and do well. But it was nice to get a shutout for myself.”

If Giordano can continue to pitch well and Bennett stays hot, the Spartans could provide some difficulties in the states as a 10th seed.

“We’re all very excited with how we’re playing right now,” Bennett said. “All of us are hitting great. It’s great to play tomorrow (instead of Saturday as originally scheduled). It keeps the momentum going.”